Happy Monday!!!

Happy Monday!!! Look who came to visit me at work!?! It cannot be a bad Monday with a visitor like this. She was such a cute, tired, butterball ... I would have taken her home if she wasn't already spoken for. I've been back to work for three months now and still love being a working mama. It's tough, but very good. I have to plan a little better (prepare bottles and lay out clothes the night before) and be more protective of my time at work (less watercooler chit chat). Otherwise, its just about the same as before. Working moms: do share ... how do you make work work!?! Xoxo-BLC

Back to Work

Squeak is nine weeks old (EEEK!) and I'm headed back to work. I've actually hired a sitter a few times a week to pop into the office for a few hours here and there. That has been a super duper way to ease back into the swing of things. Squeak hasn't taken a bottle from me so weening will be practically cold turkey. I wish we could keep on trucking and next time I might try a little longer. My schedule just seems too daunting right now and the one thing I've learned about nursing: it has to work well to work well. I have missed work (and normalcy) and I'm ready for the schedule it will force on us. Being home for nine week has been WONDERFUL. I have loved this sweet sweet sweet time with baby Squeak. I will forever cherish it. It is hard to go back to work and put her in the care of others. But is is also good. Good for her (socialization!) and good for me (I really love my career). Xoxo-BLC

Swearing and Celebrating

You read about my swearing in ceremony last year here: "Let's Play "I Spy"!!!"

I confessed: I wasn't even going to go, but my firm insisted.

I didn't realize it was a big deal. I didn't even tell my family ...

... or invite anyone to join in on the celebration.

This year, I didn't play around. It was out-of-state for me,

so I couldn't attend the big, mass swearing in-ceremony like last year.

Instead, I scheduled it so my husband could join and my wonderful in-laws.

The judge was so accommodating and she too took two bars.

She loved jabbing at my father-in-law which was a hoot.

The clerk was so great and squeezed me in to her full day.

I signed the BIG book in this town that every attorney sworn in has signed.

WOW! The oldest I saw was from 1937 ... before the bar exam. Lucky duck!!!

My in-law's surprised me with a gorige (and sooo delish) cake to celebrate!!!

Who knew we would be celebrating swearing so much!?!

They were too kind to indulge me ALL day and I felt so special.

Man am I glad this is behind me and one thing I cannot say enough:

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU:

to God for His unfailing grace ... twice, to my husband for giving up a summer again, to my family for always supporting my dreams, to my friends for letting me go MIA again, and to YOU for your prayers and encouraging words. Last year we celebrated in Greece, this year: LONDON!!! Xoxo-BLC

Today Only ... V-O-T-E!!!

When it comes to politics, 

I think the King said it best: 

"I little less conversation, 

a little more action please." 

Exercise your freedom of choice ...

... and go VOTE today!!! 

Xoxo-BLC

Lightening Can Strike Twice

A year ago I was black and blue from pinching myself to see if it was true: I passed the bar exam!!! I was jumping for joy so much that I signed up for another one (what was a I thinking!?!). The second time around was worse: the pressure is just as bad, time was sparse with a big-girl job to juggle, none of my law school bffs were studying, and summertime is too much fun to spend hitting the books. Most of my studying was on the go (evidence above in pictures) and I was w-o-r-r-i-e-d, so I asked you all to pray, pray, pray. Many thanks to your thoughts, prayers, and uplifting words: I passed again!!! This is nothing short of a small miracle and lightening really does strike twice. Thank you thank you thank you: to my husband for everything, to my parents for raising me to believe I can accomplish anything, to my friends for issuing me summertime-rainchecks ... again, for my firm for asking me to undertake this, to YOU for praying, and most of all to God for Philippians 4:13 says: "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." Xoxo-BLC

Making Work Friends ...

A little over a year ago (one year, three weeks, and one day ... but who is counting ...), I started my big girl attorney job at a new firm. I only knew one person at the firm and it wasn't one of the firms I clerked at during law school. So making new friends was important to me. My how-to:

 Then add any flavor or color of ...

 And viola:

It's the perfect pop of color, 

low calorie, 

sweet treat 

to kick start work friendships. 

And the talk is sooo much better than at the water cooler. 

But beware, when you run out ... 

it's time to restock pronto!!! 

Making new friends is fun and shouldn't be hard work ... 

work is hard enough. 

Xoxo-BLC

Wear Lilly ... to WORK!!!

 Fellow blogger and friend, Queen Bee Swain, recently shared this article with me: Lilly Pulitzer at the Law Firm. Personally, I think wearing Lilly every day in some way is just more fun. Even to work at a law firm.

My firm is a tad more casual, but I think even a stuffy law firm could handle a punch of color. 

Below is an average what-I-wear-to-work. I live in dresses, blazers, heels, and BIG jewels:

 Lilly Pulitzer Shift :: J.Crew Jacket :: Lilly Pulitzer Clogs :: Loren Hope Necklace/Bracelet

 Lilly Pulitzer Dress :: J.Crew Trench :: Loren Hope Necklace :: Lilly Pulitzer Pumps

 

 Lilly Pulitzer Shift :: J.Crew Jacket :: Lilly Pulitzer Pumps :: Loren Hope Necklace/Bracelet

 Lilly Pulitzer Shift :: J.Crew Jacket :: Lilly Pulitzer Pumps :: Noble House Designs Necklace

 

Lilly Pulitzer Shift :: GAP Jacket :: Lilly Pulitzer Pumps/Necklace :: Hoops

I like the how the Careerist pointed out a scarf or a blouse or belt or purse might be just the punch you are looking for. On days I'm in court, you can't catch me in a Lilly shift ... or can you!?! If you can't tell, why should I!?! Wearing Lilly well to work just makes life more colorful!!!

Dish: what are your favorite colorful work outfits!?! Xoxo-BLC

The Attorney's Barzam

Oooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmggggggggggggggggggoodness!!! Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno x 100. Ewwwwwwww. Yawwwwwwwn zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. YIKES!!! Wooooooooooof. Uggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Ick, ick, ick, ick, ick, ick etc. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Well that about sums up the barzam and my life for the last month. It was just as bad as I remembered from last year and I don't care what anyone says: the attorney's bar is just as tough as the regular barzam. I cannot thank you enough for your well wishes, words of encouragement, and unfailing support. I am thrilled to report I am still married, my family still loves me, and I still have friends. It's a miracle!!! Many thanks to them and you too for letting me be a tad MIA and study like it was in style. Glad to be back to TCSK ... I have missed you much!!! Xoxo-BLC

Say a Little Prayer ...

... that lightening strikes twice. 

I'm taking the attorney's bar exam in another state ...
... and I need to p-a-s-s. This is what most of my barzam studying looked like:

... on the fly and not the most conducive study conditions (i.e. car rides, airports, grocery lines).
I'm also sending loads of smarts and BIG prayers to friend @summeryjudgment.

If you would, say a little prayer for us to rock it and p-a-s-s.
Xoxo-BLC

Hot Coffee

There are things I cannot talk about on TCSK: my real name, my job, where we live, etc. There are things I choose not to talk about: politics, downer topics, unfun things, etc. The things I like talking about: me, the company I keep, wearing it well, living a colorful life, happy things, and what's going on in my little world at this exact moment. I'm almost a year late on this one, but its STILL on my mind:

Rewind to a little less than a year ago, I was chit chatting with a fellow law school classmate before class. One of us conservative and the other liberal. We were discussing tort reform like nerdy law students and he brought up the documentary Hot Coffee. I watched it and I think everyone should. Whether conservative or liberal, we can all agree on this: without all the facts, how can you establish an educated view? I urge you to watch it. Xoxo-BLC

Let's Play "I Spy"!!!

Let's play "I Spy" BLC ... can you spot me!?!

This picture from my bar class's swearing in ceremony back in the Fall

and it was just published in a journal distributed by our state bar:

 I hadn't planned attending, but my law firm and law school friends talked me into it.

I didn't realize it was such a big deal and I am oh-so glad I attended!!!

Xoxo-BLC

The Barzam

Oooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmggggggggggggggggggoodness!!! Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno. Idunno x 100. Ewwwwwwww. Yawwwwwwwn zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. YIKES!!! Wooooooooooof. Uggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Ick, ick, ick, ick, ick, ick etc. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Well that about sums up the barzam and my life for the last two months. I cannot thank you enough for your well wishes, words of encouragement, and unfailing support. I am thrilled to report I am still married, my family still loves me, and I still have friends. It's a miracle!!! Many thanks to them and you too for letting me take a hiatus and study like it was in style. Glad to be back to TCSK ... I have missed you much!!! Xoxo-BLC

PS: I gave TCSK a little facelift: what do you think!?! :)

Juris Doctors

We did it!!! My law school besties and I are law school graduates. Wow!!! I blame Elle Woods for getting me into this mess. "What like Harvard law school is hard!?" Going to law school was one of the toughest leaps I have ever made. And I am beyond glad I did!!! It has been everything I hoped and so much more. I couldn't have done it without my then boyfriend (now husband) and Grandad who always pushed me to follow my dreams. From the LSAT to all those applications, they were pulling for me from day one. My parents, sissies, family, and friends jumped on board and ALL supported me. At law school, I met two best friends. We logged loads of law library hours and saw each other through thick and thin. I must also thank M&Ms, diet coke, and coffee for the much needed caffeine fixes; Wikipedia and Google for helping me through the on-the-fly socratic method (cough, cough International Shoe); LexisNexis and Westlaw for those nifty case summaries; and I really could keep going and going and going.  I, of course, missed my stepdad today. He would be so proud. It made even more conscious to count my blessings and I was so blessed to have my mom, dad, stepmadre, one sissy, both my in-laws, and my husband with me to celebrate law school graduation. It's been quite the rollercoaster ride ... and I hear the rollercoaster is just getting started!!! Cheers to chasing dreams!!! Xoxo-BLC

PS: Happy Friday the 13th!!! I hope it's super spooooookie. I ♥ Friday the 13th because ...

3L-itis

I currently suffer from 3L-itis. You know, it's senioritis, but for third-year law students.

My symptoms: extreme apathy, frequent abandon of studies, and being highly allergic to the law library.

It's rather tragic. The cure: few days of eating way too many M&Ms, soaking up lots of sunshine poolside, sipping pink cocktails, and shopping up a storm. Phew!!! My GPA and I truly look forward to jumping this hurdle. Wish me loads of luck!!! Xoxo-BLC

T.G.I.F.

I might not be fabulous, but today I feel f-a-b-u-l-o-o-o-u-s!!!

It's Friday: a fabulous day to finish those not so fabulous make-up law school finals. :)

Wishing you and yours a happy weekend!!! Chin-chin. Xoxo-BLC

"The law is reason free from passion."

As law school finals rapidly approach, I feel like Elle Woods ... unprepared!!!

And I have to agree with Vivienne Kensington ... this is totally not acceptable.

Until I have my little duckies in a row, I will be on a brief blogosphere hiatus. Boo hoo!!!

Sending you loads of Christmas cheer (and snow) your way. Wish me luck!!! Xoxo-BLC

Downhill From Here

My third year of law school is well under way ... and I cannot believe it!!! I am totally pouting: this time next year I will have a big girl job and be anxiously awaiting my bar results. Yikes!!! And I will really really really miss seeing my law school BFFs everyday.  Law school has been the most exciting, exhausting, exhilarating, and unexpected ride. I cannot believe it is almost over. Off to savour every last minute of it!!! Xoxo-BLC

PS: Guess who passed the MPRE with flying colors!??? Yes, I did!!! Woohooooo!!! I can ethically practice law in every state. :)

Bullet Proof

Being a law clerk is fun ...
and a tad stressful.
Remember those kidney stones? That was the stress.
So last summer the civil law firms took the law clerks ...
whitewater rafting,
paintballing,
to the lake, etc.
Fun, right!?
Well this summer the criminal law firm let the law clerks ...
wear a bullet proof vest (does that vest come in pink??? hehe),
ride in unmarked police vehicles,
and viewing autopsies.
Now that's funnn, right!???
I do believe being a law clerk is the best job ever.
Too bad this is my last summer clerking. :(
Cheers to being a working girl!
Xoxo-BLC

Uptown Girl

As a native Charlottean, when I say "uptown" I really mean "downtown." I have never lived or worked uptown ...
... until now!!! I am officially an "uptown girl"!!!!From fighting traffic jams to running in heels,I am thoroughly enjoying the hustle and bustle of city life.Are you an uptown girl too?Xoxo-BLC

All Wrapped Up

As we head back to reality and I wrap up my second year of law school,

I am wondering ...

Would a Murfee Scarf help me study harder, longer, better for finals? Does watching Law & Order, The Good Wife, and Legally Blonde count as studying? Yes and yessss! I might add a little old-fashioned library quality time in there too. Cheers wrapping up! Xoxo-BLC